Paucity of rural representation reveals the true nature of this city-centric Government
ST MATTHEW’S Gospel tells us “by their fruits you will know them” – and this of course will be the test of the new Government too.
The distribution of Government ministers, however, is not an encouraging first sign. It has to be remembered that under the Constitution (Article 28) the Government consists of the 15 ministers appointed by the President. It doesn’t matter how many super-junior ministers you have sitting in on Cabinet meetings, they are still not members of the Government.
It’s not just the west and north-west excluded: the southeast and, apart from Offaly, the entire midlands region have also been left out.
The pecking order is six for Dublin (eight, if you include Greystones on the Dart), three for Cork South-Central, two for Wicklow, and one each for Meath, Cavan, Kerry and the aforementioned Offaly.
Exclude Wicklow (two ministers in Greystones) and we are left with only four representing mainly rural constituencies: Offaly, Kerry North, Cavan-Monaghan and Meath East.
It’s worth noting that three of these four constituencies are also where we find the women ministers. Conveniently perhaps, these tick the two boxes of gender and geography.
Another unfortunate omission was the failure to include anyone from the North among the Taoiseach’s 11 Seanad nominees.
Everyone will wish the new Government a fair wind as it sets sail in such stormy waters but it is unfortunate its first signals are so clearly Dublinand Cork-centred. John Glennon
Hollywood, Co Wicklow